A discussion following my original post, Pantone Color of the Year for 2023, prompted a search through my inventory for an ink that would be similar to Pantone’s magenta. Diamine Merlot is close enough to suit me. With an almost full bottle and a matching pen, the burgundy Delike New Moon 2, this was an easy pairing.
What do you think of Merlot as a match for Pantone’s magenta? Which ink would you choose?
Eli on Instagram used a combination of pen and ink that looked very appealing to me so I decided to try the same duo, a Moonman (Majohn) Wancai Mini Eyedropper with Diamine Aurora Borealis It would be my first eyedropper filler and was destined for use in my journal. For $20, it was worth a gamble. Note that the color and swirls called Daydream give the pen a happy vibe that encourages use so that is another plus in its favor.
The body is a little odd in that even posted it is short but the body circumference is greater than the pens I usually use. Finding a balanced, comfortable position for it has been tricky especially since the nib is not the smoothest. It isn’t bad but it isn’t as smooth as the Delike New Moon 2 EF used for comparison. Surprisingly, the Wancai Mini F writes finer than the Delike EF. The latter has slightly more flow so that might account for the line difference. Maybe.
In terms of appearance, the New Moon is colorful if traditional. The Wancai Mini is an eye-catching cutie. From the swirls to the size, it looks like a pen that was meant for fun.
Note that the Mini has no clip so it does tend to wander around the desk but a pen rest will keep it anchored.
Moonman Wancai Mini Transparent Pocket-Size Eyedropper Fountain Pen with Fine Steel Nib 0.5mm
Dimensions: Length closed is 87mm and posted is 122mm. The diameter is 14mm. Net weight is 11.9g.
Cap screws on. Eye dropper filler or ink cartridges.
Material : Acrylic Resin.
Delike New Moon 2 with Extra-Fine 0.38mm (Rose Red)
Dimensions: Length closed is 132mm and posted is 155 mm. The diameter is 12mm. Net weight is 23g.
Cap screws on. Cartridge or converter filled.
Material: Acrylic Resin.
What I learned from experimenting with the Wancai is that eyedropper fillers are easy to use and hold a ton of ink which is perfect for journal writing in my favorite Traveler’s Notebook.
A pen with a cap that needs to be screwed on to give it adequate length for writing is frustrating and awkward. My pattern is to write a few sentences, pause, then write a few more. Unscrewing the cap from the back then screwing it on the front then screwing it on the back again just to write another sentence or two was too disruptive. A standard twist cap is interruptive enough. However, an eyedropper would be useful. Attractive as it is, the Mini is headed for the pen drawer though on occasion it might get a peak at daylight just for fun.
Diamine Aurora Borealis is good just like all Diamine inks are though it will have to find another mate. Perhaps one of my Platinum #3776 pens with a clear barrel would be happy to show off an aqua mate. Except when testing ink, I do not fill multiple pens with the same color so the Plat will have to wait until the Wancai Mini is empty. That is taking forever thanks to the bottomless eyedropper. I think the pen fairy must be refilling it when I am not looking. Sigh.
Some time ago, I purchased a Majohn (Moonman) S5 Eyedropper fountain pen. The EF nib would not loosen so I could not install one of the alternate nibs that came with the pen. As a resident of the pen drawer it passed from memory. Rupertarzeian reminded me of the S5 in a recent post. Yesterday, I gave it another try and with a bit more muscle, the nib came loose and what appears to be a right or reverse oblique got installed. Well, sort of. The nib and feed will not align correctly so I am skeptical but a proper test it shall have.
Now for the really hard part. What ink would be best for a pen that will hold enough of it to last months. Red, yellow and orange are not colors I would use page after page but that leaves half a rainbow of other options. What ink would you suggest? Well-behaved is the only essential characteristic though shading would be a nice touch. The transparent barrel will show off the color so that is to be considered, too. Which ink would you put in the S5?
Happy Fountain Pen Day! On my desk to mark the occasion are Delike New Moon 2 pens with Diamine Ink. Two have fude (bent) nibs while the third has a fine nib. The variety of line widths will cover all of my writing needs. The inks aren’t showy but suited to general writing tasks, and of course Diamine is always reliable. Funny how I picked the colors and then realized they were all from Diamine. We are very old friends to be sure.
What’s on your desk today?
Federalist Pens and Paper sent samples of all sixteen inks offered by Anderillium. That’s a lot of ink!
Swatches on Tomoe River paper made with a cotton swab and the name written with a dip style fountain pen reveal clear, bright colors and a well-rounded selection. I did not see any sheen though other reviewers have. The paper and pen combination can make such a difference.
All of the inks were well-behaved with average to slightly dry flow though I do not have a pen that would properly test their abilities to tame a truly excessive flow. In the past, some inks have been inclined to release a tad too much ink from the pen used for the writing samples. Not the case with any of the Anderillium inks. I could also write at least a half page with one dip making the inks especially useful.
For my own uses, Pompadour Cotinga Burgundy, Colossal Squid Dark and Cuttlefish Brown are likely prospects. The Cotinga and my burgundy Delike New Moon F ought to get along very well while the Colossal Squid should be right for the Lamy Studio F. Cuttlefish Brown could be destined for the Platinum #3776 Music Nib but the Platinum Century Nice M might also make a good mate. So many choices. So many pens clamoring for attention. What’s an inkophile to do?
Caveat: In all my years of writing reviews, I have never had so much trouble getting ink swatch photos to accurately reflect colors. We tried two cameras with a lightbox as well as sunlight in addition to scanning them, something I haven’t done in ages. I will post some of the results, but for the true colors check the manufacturer’s website. Or order ink samples from Federalist Pens. That’s the best way to know what you are getting before making an investment.
Review: Anderillium Inks Cephalopod Series by KraftyChloé.
From a search for new ways to decorate journal pages, paper washi stickers are proving to be a very good option. Mine work with fountain pen ink although they can take a minute or two to dry. PVC stickers are plastic and repel ink so read listings to be sure you are buying the paper kind. The package I purchased contains paper as well as plastic stickers, the latter of which are waterproof and attractive for decorating journal covers amongst other uses.
The Traveler’s Journal in the photo has a 4mm grid for size reference. I have two additional packages on order, eucalyptus leaves and vintage flowers, for their small dimensions and subject matters. Combining them with my new rubber stamps ought to make my journals and notebooks colorful and lively, just the thing for summer.
While digging through a box of crafting supplies, an out of place bit of folded paper caught my eye. Instead of tossing it, I opened it to discover ink writing samples from July 22, 2015. Only four of the inks have seen pens in recent memory but the seal is in a nearby drawer ready for action. It is a mood seal that translates as “grow flowers to invite butterflies”. Nice thought, eh?
Think of all that has happened in the past seven years. In our hobby alone, the number of new retailers and products has exploded. Admittedly, I cannot keep up but I can admire the gumption and innovation especially in the sheen, shimmer and shine of some of the new inks. Pens have become more colorful with nibs that were once specialty becoming readily available, fude (bent nib) and flex in particular.
Stipula Verde Muschiato and Saffron are fall colors, but it might be interesting to use them this summer to remind me that cooler temperatures will arrive eventually, even if that seems impossibly distant today.
Do you still use the same inks and pens you did in 2015? If not, are there any you might want to revisit?
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